Harris Embraces Prosecutor Past In Campaign Against Trump

Update: 2024-08-13

Digest

The podcast begins with the host, Kevin, introducing the episode and setting the context for the discussion. He mentions his personal struggles with tomato-growing and the recording date. The episode then delves into Kamala Harris's career as a prosecutor, highlighting her reputation for precision and skill in the courtroom. The discussion explores her "smart on crime" approach, which challenged the traditional "tough on crime" versus "soft on crime" dichotomy. The podcast examines the "Lock Him Up" chant directed at Donald Trump at Kamala Harris's rallies, comparing it to the similar chant aimed at Hillary Clinton in 2016. The hosts discuss Harris's efforts to discourage the chant and the political implications of its use.

Outlines

00:00:00

Kamala Harris's Prosecutorial Career and the "Lock Him Up" Chant

This episode explores Kamala Harris's career as a prosecutor, her "smart on crime" approach, and the implications of the "Lock Him Up" chant at her rallies, examining its connection to political polarization and the use of prosecutorial rhetoric in campaigns.

Keywords

Kamala Harris

Kamala Harris is an American politician who served as the 49th Vice President of the United States from 2021 to 2023. She previously served as the 32nd Attorney General of California from 2011 to 2017 and as a U.S. Senator from California from 2017 to 2021.

Prosecutor

A prosecutor is a legal professional who represents the government in criminal proceedings. They are responsible for investigating crimes, presenting evidence in court, and seeking convictions against defendants.

Smart on Crime

"Smart on crime" is a political approach to criminal justice that emphasizes evidence-based policies and strategies to reduce crime and improve public safety. It often involves a focus on rehabilitation, prevention, and community-based solutions.

Lock Him Up

"Lock Him Up" is a chant used at political rallies, often directed at political opponents. It expresses a desire for the opponent to be imprisoned, typically for perceived wrongdoing or corruption.

Q&A

How did Kamala Harris's approach to criminal justice differ from the traditional "tough on crime" versus "soft on crime" dichotomy?
Harris rejected the false choice between being tough on crime and soft on crime, instead advocating for a "smart on crime" approach that emphasized evidence-based policies and strategies.
Why is the "Lock Him Up" chant directed at Donald Trump at Kamala Harris's rallies significant?
The chant echoes the similar chant aimed at Hillary Clinton in 2016, highlighting the potential for political polarization and the use of prosecutorial rhetoric in campaigns. Harris's efforts to discourage the chant reflect her desire to avoid a focus on retribution and instead emphasize a broader approach to criminal justice reform.

Show Notes

Vice President Kamala Harris is using her record as a prosecutor to her advantage in the campaign against former president Donald Trump. So far, it appears to be working. That's a big contrast from her 2020 Democratic presidential primary bid. But this is a different race and the politics of crime have changed, too.

This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, voting correspondent Ashley Lopez, and White House correspondent Deepa Shivaram.

The podcast is produced by Casey Morell and Kelli Wessinger. Our intern is Bria Suggs. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy